CoA refuses to release Azerbaijani blogger Guseinov

The Baku Court of Appeal (CoA) refused to satisfy the complaint lodged by the blogger Mekhman Guseinov, who asked to release him under CER (conditional early relief). The defence will seek the abolition of this decision at the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 3, 2017, Mekhman Guseinov was sentenced to two years in prison on defamation charges, because he had declared torture after being detained for disobeying police. The blogger asked the court to release him on CER after having served a half of his awarded term. He complained about psychological pressure exerted on him in jail.

Yalchin Imanov, a law expert, has noted that Azerbaijani courts, as a rule, fail to release activists under the CER.

Rasul Djafarov, the head of the Human Rights Club, is sure that Guseinov is being persecuted for his blogging and human rights activities.

"Mekhman was running a popular satirical bloc 'SANCAQ production' on the Facebook. This page has almost 350,000 subscribers. Mr Guseinov posted illustrations of the luxurious life of state officials and MPs," Rasul Djafarov has stated.

Besides, he has reminded that one month before his arrest Guseinov was elected to head the IRFS – the most active organization in defending journalists in Azerbaijan.